How tall was Lee Marvin

Lee Marvin's Height

6ft 1 (185.4 cm)

American Actor best remembered for roles in films The Dirty Dozen, Point Blank, The Big Red One, The Killers, The Wild One, Hell in the Pacific, Cat Ballou, The Man Who Shot Liberty Vance, Seven Men From Now and The Professionals. On his Marine Corps identity card his weight was listed as 180 pounds. At age 18.5 he was measured 6ft 1/2 inch.

How tall is Lee Marvin
Photo By Dijk, Hans van / Anefo [CC BY-SA 3.0nl], via Wikimedia Commons

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Add a Comment217 comments

Average Guess (66 Votes)
6ft 1.14in (185.8cm)
Jake: 1.84 m - 1.85 m said on 23/Nov/23
Yeah, he could look an easy 6ft 1 or heading towards 186 cm in Bad Day at Black Rock.
Leone_Fan said on 14/Sep/23
Lee Marvin is usually given as 6'2''. In the Dirty Dozen he did look about that. If you search for his interviews with Carson and Letterman, Marvin has a rangy look. There is a photo of him as a young marine and he appears to be a tall guy in this pic. Going against this is the observation that in Prime Cut, Gene Hackman did look about an inch taller in their scenes together. So seems likely Marvin was either 6'1'' or 6'2'' or somewhere in between.
Slamm said on 27/Aug/23
Peak 6-1 looks correct
Arch Stanton said on 7/Jun/23
In the film in a few scenes I thought it looked more than inch, though in that photo capture it doesn't look like it.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 1/Jun/23
Arch maybe an inch between them?

Click Here

But possibly Lee had lost a bit by then. I think prime he was likelier a bit over 6ft1 than under.
Arch Stanton said on 24/Feb/23
Marvin was looking around 184 with William Hurt in Gorky Park I thought. Marvin was near 60 at the time. I can believe 186 in his prime but 6 ft 2 was always likely a shoe measurement.
berta said on 7/Jan/23
he did look atleast 6´1. I can beleive anythin from 185-almost 187. Around 186 is my guess. 184 at almost 19 years old is tragne though. I guess some people can grow at that age. My fathers brother was measured in the army at 184 at age 18. He ended up at 186.
Nembokid said on 18/Nov/22
In The Dirty Dozen for my opinion Lee near to 6'4.5" George Kennedy looks like 6'3" or 6 3.5"
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 23/Sep/22
Still think you had him pegged at 186cm.
Hong said on 29/Aug/22
Click Here Here's Lee with Rock Hudson, Hudson is listed at 6ft5 he has also been described as 6ft4 on occasions,for the latter height Lee is looking in the 6ft flat range but Rock at 6ft5 makes Lee max 6ft1 or maybe a bit less but certainly not over 6ft1.
Sinclair said on 30/Jul/22
Rob, does Wynn look under, on or over 5'10.5" with Marvin around 8:46 and 1:05:30?

Click Here

Hopefully, this helps get Wynn a well-deserved page at somewhere between 5'10" and 5'11".
Editor Rob
Anwyhere in 5ft 10.5-11 zone is arguable, not a flat 5ft 10 though.
Sinclair said on 28/Jul/22
Rob, I feel Marvin needs an upgrade or Mike Connors needs a downgrade.

Please see 24:40. Marvin seems noticeably a stronger 6’1” than Connors.

Click Here
Tech noir said on 1/May/22
Peak 6-1.5 is definitely believable.
Hong said on 27/Apr/22
Click Here Here's Lee with 5ft10 listed Eddie Albert.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 25/Apr/22
Yeah Rob, I think you had him pegged previously at 186cm...probably was a guy like most in that strong 6ft1 zone rounded to 6ft2


I'd rate him as taller than Lancaster for sure...
6'4" Leprechaun said on 24/Apr/22
He was a tall guy. Hollywood was more honest about height in those days. 6'0.5" like Al Bundy.
Rory said on 9/Apr/22
I definitely think there is a good case for 6ft1.25 for Lee Marvin. In shout at the devil with Roger Moore I'd struggle to argue Moore as being taller even though he is listed as being so on here. In one scene Marvin is barefoot and Roger is in footwear and they still look very close,i wouldn't put it past Marvin to come in taller than Roger and Roger was minimum 6ft1 flat.
Ian C. said on 1/Nov/21
Lee Marvin had one of the most compelling movie faces of all time, but I can't remember a scene in any of his movies where he kisses a girl. (Although in several, he does in fact have a girlfriend. ) Paul Newman, on the other hand is exactly the opposite, in that very few of his movies do not involve romantic scenes with women.

Marvin looked like a caveman, which pretty much shut him out of roles as romantic leads. This in spite of the fact that he was tall and lithe, supremely masculine and obviously intelligent. He had roughly the same capacities as Sean Connery except for a handsome face, and Connery got to kiss anyone with ovaries who happened to be handy.
Tall Sam said on 30/Oct/21
Any particular catalyst for the downgrade?
Editor Rob
From watching more films I thought maybe just 6ft 1.
Jtm said on 30/Oct/21
wasn't he 1 or 2 inches shorter than gene hackman? i think that yet again proves ackman was 6'2 peak.
berta said on 27/Oct/21
i thikn he could look legit 6´1 alot. 185-187 seems possible. i give him 186
Popper plop said on 4/Jul/21
Youth height 6-1 imo
Hong said on 16/Jun/21
Click Here Is Lee 6 inches taller than 5ft7 inch listed John Cassavetes Maybe?
Editor Rob
can seem not much over 6ft there, however maybe looser posture.
Arch Stanton said on 10/Jun/21
Saw a picture the other day, big Clint Walker was in the middle with numerous Hollywood stars on set of the Dirty Dozen I think. Marvin at the side looked nearer Clint's height than some of the others. In the photo he looks easily 6'2. I wonder if he was wearing lifts.
Arch Stanton said on 6/May/21
Rob, the thing is Marvin was definitely taller than Lancaster, about 2cm!
Arch Stanton said on 6/May/21
Mmm, I had him at 186 like Fonda, but if he got measured at 6'0'5 at 18! I think I was the one who convinced Rob he wasn't the 6'2 he used to have him listed at!
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 6/May/21
This is the shortest he could have been, anywhere between 6ft1-1½ zone, 6ft2 out of bed.
talker said on 31/Mar/21
in the photo fromn the professionals,Lancaster is forward which is obvious from his step,Marvin and Ryan stand next to each other and its obvious Marvin is at least 6'1.5 -6'2".
Miss Sandy Cowell said on 19/Feb/21
Lee Marvin was born 97 years ago today. As a kid, I remember trying to sing along to his chart hit Wandrin' Star from his film Paint Your Wagon and failing miserably - because his voice was simply TOO DEEP!

Poor Lee lived only 63 years.

6ft1.

RIP Lee Marvin 🕯️ XX
19th February 1924 - 29th August 1987
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 27/Jan/21
Rob, maybe 186cm?
Pete Mulholland said on 18/Jan/21
Here is a great photo from "The Professional", with Burt Lancaster, Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan, and Woody Strode in a group photo, shoulder to shoulder. Click Here
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 30/Dec/20
Not sure I'd have gone with just 6ft1.
Hong said on 30/Dec/20
Click Here Here's lee and John Wayne,I think 6ft1 is ok for him,he looked tall but not 6ft2 as he was originally listed,1 hole inch dropped.
Hong said on 30/Dec/20
Click Here Here's a good pic.
Hong said on 30/Dec/20
Click Here Here's Lee with 5ft9.5 listed Steve McQueen
Hong said on 29/Dec/20
Rob although his height is listed as 6ft.5 aged 18,you have him listed as 6 ft1,so you believe he grew a bit after 18?If he was just 6ft.5 that leaves 6 ft2 for William Hurt look dodgy because they both looked similar in a movie together.I personally think a lot of the actors from this generation did slightly exsaggerate their height.
Editor Rob
I think it's possible yeah
Hong said on 23/Sep/20
Click Here Here's a clip of Marvin with 6 ft Jack Elem he looks 6ft2 in comparison.
Tall Sam said on 22/Aug/20
Here's James Coburn with Marvin, I would agree he does seem to be the one whose a tad taller.
Click Here
Sinclair said on 20/Aug/20
I think the 6’1.5” listing is adequate enough for Marvin’s peak but I would not go any lower. 6’1.75” for Marvin’s peak would not be a bad shout either. In Point Blank, I found 6’2” John Vernon to be clearly taller than Marvin and I suspect 6’2” William Hurt may have just edged out Marvin in Gorky Park (both Hurt and Marvin often practiced relaxed posture). I think Lee Van Cleef may have been just a hair taller than Marvin in The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. In The Professionals, Marvin looked close to one inch taller than Burt Lancaster.

I find Lee Marvin’s stature and facial features rather similar to those of James Coburn, I think Coburn was slightly taller than Marvin when they were both at their peaks. Does anyone agree or disagree that Coburn was a tad taller than Marvin?
Ian C. said on 3/Aug/20
Stands face to face in close up with Donald Sutherland, who credibly claimed six foot four. Marvin was only an inch shorter than Sutherland. Also, Marvin seems within an inch of John Wayne, also six four. So Marvin might have been six foot three. Certainly taller than six foot two.
movieguy12 said on 24/Jun/20
Its strange sometimes to guess an actors height. Lee Marvin is one of my fav actors and I'd have to guess about 6'2''. Yet in Prime Cut he did seem an inch or so shorter than Gene Hackman. Marvin was older but probably not so old as to have lost much height. However in Gorky Park an older Marvin looked eye to eye with a much younger William Hurt who never looks under 6'2''.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 22/Oct/19
Really could appear anywhere from 6ft1-2
Arch Stanton said on 28/Aug/19
186.5 cm looks spot on peak!
Importer said on 5/Aug/19
186.5cm-187cm judging by the mugshot. His eyes are at 174cm making him appear shorter than he really is, so I can understand why the average guess is at 185cm.. someone between 6'1"-6'2" usually has a minimum eyelevel of 175-175.5cm
Importer said on 5/Aug/19
186.5cm-187cm judging by the mugshot. His eyes are at 174cm making him appear shorter than he really is, so I can understand why the average guess is at 185cm..
Petrus said on 20/Feb/19
Click Here

1,80m
Editor Rob
It's the weight that is 180 lbs.
Mister lennon said on 31/Dec/18
I think solid or strong 6'1 peak. 186-187.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 29/Dec/18
Strong 6ft1 to a weak 6ft2 sort of range
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 1/Aug/18
Both 6ft2 and 6ft1 flat should be ruled out but anywhere between those is debatable. The current average guess is ridiculous.
berta said on 28/Jul/18
he was a big guy.the average guess is way of :P he was definitely taller than that. he could have been at worst 6 foot 1 flat. and at best 187. i think 186-187 is a good guess for him
Ian C. said on 18/Mar/18
Marvin had an enormous head, so even though he was tall he seemed even bigger than he was. He must have had an extra large larynx too, to produce that wonderful voice. He was badly wounded with the U.S. Marines on Saipan. He was arthritic in his forties. He was said to have an extraordinarily good memory for dialogue. I love old tv shows from the early sixties, like The Untouchables and Route 66 and Dragnet, and Marvin is a frequent guest star (usually as the heavy). He was always compelling, and usually dominated the stars of the shows. In The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, Marvin was stronger than John Wayne, who was a very tough act to beat when it came to projecting strength.
only
Oddly he was nominated for an Academy Award once, and he won, for Cat Ballou. My view is that this is the most deserved Oscar ever awarded by the Academy.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 16/Dec/17
Looked a bit shorter than this in his later career because of his alcoholism and smoking
movieguy said on 13/Dec/17
To contradict a previous comment I made looked at Bad Day at Black Rock last night, a great film. Marvin is fairly young in this film and has a lean rangy look. Does look a 6'2'' guy. Of course it's difficult to tell from looking at a film how tall someone is in reality.
James said on 14/Oct/17
Marvin probably wore lifts after he became a star with "Cat Ballou" in 1965.
movieguy said on 10/Oct/17
Have to admit I agree with the famous or infamous James on this one. Seminole is on YouTube and Hudson looks much taller than Marvin in a brief scene where they stand together. Of course there is some question over Hudson's height 6'4'' to 6'6'' are the estimates. Marvin doesn't look 6'2'' next to Hudson but who knows for sure?
James said on 8/Oct/17
In "Seminole" Marvin looked a lot shorter than Rock Hudson. I doubt if he was any more than six foot at his peak.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 11/Sep/17
It's fair to say he lost a bit height in his 60's due to his unhealthy lifestyle...
James said on 5/Sep/17
"Shout at the Devil" was clearly filmed so that Moore and Marvin would look in line most of the time, due to camera angles, higher grounds and one of them being closer to the camera.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 1/Sep/17
I think he was above 6ft1 flat but not quite 6ft2. Wasn't he taller than Roger Moore?
Arch Stanton said on 3/Aug/17
He was have been a very heavy smoker and drinker as he looked 60 by the age of 40! Can't believe he was only 40 in Cat Balou. Honestly looked 65-70 in his 70s films and was only about 50.
Arch Stanton said on 3/Aug/17
@Rob, caught him in a 70s film with Gene Hackman and he looked 185 if Hackman was 188, and there was a case for Hackman being slightly under too! He'd lost height by the mid 70s perhaps.
Editor Rob
I think in the 1970's Marvin probably had lost a bit, but whether 6ft 1 or 1.5 peak, either is debatable at times.
James said on 31/Jul/17
Marvin was 6'0.5" at his peak, and six foot by the late 1960s.
movieguy said on 30/Jul/17
That Lee Marvin Marines photo is easy to find and he looks really long and gangly in it. Looks well over 6ft but maybe the other guys in the photo are short. I thought Gene Hackman looked taller than Marvin in Prime Cut. Again it's the same old problem unless you met Marvin it's difficult to guess his actual height. Because of angles etc it's difficult to know how tall someone is from watching them on screen. Plus who do you use as a comparison. Quoted heights are usually but not always inflated so I guess so the 6ft actor you use as a comparison might only be 5'10''. Rock Hudson's female co-star in McMillan and Wife, I can't remember her name said he was the only star who was as big in person as he looked on screen but even Rock's height is open to question with estimates ranging from 6'4'' to 6'6''. On Rock I'd go for the middle at 6'5''.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 26/Jul/17
189.2cm out of bed
Jug said on 21/Jun/17
Was at least as tall as William Hurt in Gorky Park. I think he was the full 6'2.
James said on 27/May/17
His real weight in the marines was 160 lbs.
Ian C said on 19/May/17
180 pounds when he was in the Marines? You can google up a picture of Marvin standing bare-chested when he was in the Marines. He would have been about nineteen at that time, I think. He seems quite thin, so much so that, if he really did weight 180 pounds, he would have had to have been at least six foot three.
Thomas Veil said on 9/Apr/17
He always had a good lean build. But certainly looks 6'1 easy
Arch Stanton said on 14/Mar/17
On the phone today and an aunt mentioned how much my voice had deepened in the last few years. I said I hadn't really noticed, and that I aint exactly Lee Marvin haha.
Editor Rob
that's funny, I seen a neighbour the other day and he said I was beginning to look like Stewart Granger...

only afterwards I realised he was talking about ever increasing number of grey hairs appearing 😁
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 22/Jan/17
He was guy who could look both 6ft1 and 6ft2
Aza said on 16/Dec/16
He was a tall dude .
James said on 1/Dec/16
In some scenes in that awful film "Prime Cut" Marvin looked about 2 inches shorter than Gene Hackman. I can't see Marvin over six foot by 1971.
AlexMahone said on 29/Oct/16
Rob, really....please answer me clearly. Do we need this James "Lift Wearer" guy on this board? Do you really need this guy? Need a troll?

OK, Jame/Alex, etc. If Moore was wearing lifts, you are an id.......What do you say? You has really high heels complex...:)

Moore was 25 years older than his character...yes, true. And what? You are really a clever and smart boy that this fact wrote.
Editor Rob
I think he has been around a while on here, but yeah, the whole lifts talk is getting a bit repetitive. Some did wear them in roles for sure, but many wouldn't have.
James said on 27/Oct/16
Moore was wearing lifts in "Shout at the Devil". He was 25 years older than his character.
AlexMahone said on 26/Oct/16
In the Shout at the Devil Roger Moore and Lee Marvin height was almost the same. Moore posture was great Marvin's a little bit relaxed but they were similar in height.
jervis said on 23/Oct/16
There is a photo of him stand beside Ali and Clint Walker were he looks a flat 6ft,maybe its his posture or uneven ground,but he never looked over 6ft1 to me.
josh jeffords said on 11/Oct/16
wow lots of craziness here he was absolutely dwarfed by the Duke that means 3+ inches.
stewart seemed taller than him too maybe 2 inches.
I d bet a weak 6 1 peak in the 70s he barely looked 6 ft.
His lanky build gave him a taller look also long arms just not super tall.
jervis said on 21/Jul/16
looked 6ft.075 or max 6ft1 with Eastwood and Wayne,who were both between 6ft3 and 4.
James said on 6/Jul/16
Did he wear lifts after he became a star in 1965?
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 3/Jul/16
Could look both a strong 6ft1 and a weak 6ft2 at times
movieguy said on 23/Jun/16
I wouldn't argue with the height given on this page. I don't think Marvin was a flat 6ft though, he was a tall man. Same way with Clint, don't argue with him being tall but believe he was just under or a weak 6'4''. He was edged out by Gregory Walcott and George Kennedy who are both given as 6'4''.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 22/Jun/16
Minimum: 6ft1¼(186cm)
Maximum: 6ft1¾(187cm)
Tom said on 21/Jun/16
Marvin was six foot.
mrbobh5344 said on 20/Jun/16
Could not have been more than 6'1".... if that. Watched "The Killers" from 1964 last night on a 55" TV. Had excellent shots of Marvin next to Claude Akins and Clu Gulager. Marvin looked barely taller than Gulaher... an inch, maybe... And very similar to Akins. Those two claimed 5'11" and 6'1"..... have to assume some fudge.....
Arch Stanton said on 8/Jun/16
@Movieguy, aren't you the same guy who thinks Clint Eastwood was more 6'3? Check ou Paint Your Wagon, Eastwood was 2.5 inches taller. So was Robert Ryan in The Professionals.
movieguy said on 6/Jun/16
Someone has uploaded a 1986 Lee Marvin interview on Letterman. Although the camera angle isn't great Marvin does look rangy with a very large head. He looks a genuine 6'2'' guy to my eyes. I think the interview was filmed not long before Marvin died and he doesn't look great. He was definitely a tall man though, clearing 6ft comfortably.
James said on 12/Apr/16
Lee Marvin was exactly 6'1".
Ian C. said on 16/Feb/16
An actor is considered a star, Tom, if he or she can get a movie financed by agreeing to be in it. Investors can know with a reasonable certainty that the movie will succeed because that actor will sell tickets. So Marvin was a star for about five years, even if most of his movies weren't monster hits. The all-time champ, incidentally, is probably John Wayne, who made many mediocre movies that were successful only because people would pay to see him in anything. A close runner-up is Elvis Presley, who never once made a movie that lost money, even though they were usually pretty lame movies. Johnny Depp is a star, but only provisionally, since if he makes a bad movie people won't necessarily go.
Tom said on 15/Feb/16
Moore was probably wearing special shoes though.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 6/Feb/16
Similar range to Roger Moore in.....I forget the movie
Tom said on 10/Jan/16
Marvin was clearly less than 6'1". I'm surprised he was considered a major star when he was only in a few hits in the mid-1960s.
mrbobh5344 said on 5/Dec/15
Jim Davis is usually listed at 6' 2 1/2". He was in Monte Walsh with Marvin. Davis was taller in their scenes together. Looked like an inch or so. I have always believed Marvin to be in the 6' 1" range. Respectably tall for his generation. Loved his movies from late 50's and on until Death Hunt. Looked old and sickly by then. Wonderful voice and screen presence.
Larry said on 14/Sep/15
Lee Marvin was 6'1".
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 13/Aug/15
I think John Vernon might have been a strong 6ft2.
Sam said on 16/Jul/15
Also, in dress shoes I think Marvin in Point Blank looked dead-even with a barefoot John Vernon who was just added at 6'2".
Sam said on 16/Jul/15
Have you seen Attack? In that he looks around 1.5 inches shorter than Jack Palance there. Speaking of whom, I usually think of Robert Ryan as a guy whose leading roles in the 50s are extremely dark & complex enough to make them quite unsettling but Palance takes the cake over Ryan in that regard IMO.
Arch Stanton said on 18/Jun/15
Rob, the funny thing is in The Killers Marvin looks max 2 inches taller than Clu Gulager who was supposed to be 5 ft 11!!
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 17/Jun/15
6ft1½-1¾ peak. This is closer
Arch Stanton said on 17/Jun/15
Thanks Rob, excellent find with the id card too. I've been saying for ages he looked 6'1 range. He made Clint and Ryan look 6'4.5 and both of them I think you could argue weak 6'4 for peak. This now fits with Wayne too. 6'1.5 really looked the most he could be with Ryan. He did look about an inch taller than Lancaster though. I could believe 6'0.5 for Lancaster, but I don't think he looked as low as a flat 6'. In some films like Vera Cruz and From Here to Eternity he really looked a convincing 6'1 guy.
Arch Stanton said on 15/Jun/15
Rob, I got a good look at him with Robert Ryan in The Professionals and Ryan honestly looked between 2 and 3 inches taller, much like Clint did in Paint your Wagon. He really looked 6'1" range next to Ryan, but he did look taller than Lancaster though.
Editor Rob
actually if you think of Marvin being in shoes here, his eyelevel is just under 5ft 9...and give his eyelevel say 5 inches (and the camera around his eyes) and bung on another half inch for good measure then his eyelevel barefoot might not be much more than 5ft 8 so somwhere in 6ft 1-1.5 range could be more likely.
Marvin Id Card.
Arch Stanton said on 14/Jun/15
In The Professionals Marvin looks between 2 and 3 inches shorter than 6'4" Robert Ryan, about the same diff with Clint Eastwood in Paint your Wagon. Marvin looked near an inch taller than Lancaster, Lancaster at 185 and Marvin at 187 I think quite possible.
Arch Stanton said on 13/Jun/15
Rob I really think a full 6ft 2 is a stretch. he never really looked it to me. He made Clint look 6'4.5 in Paint Your Wagon and him at 6 ft 2 would also make John Wayne nearer 6'4.5. I think 187 would be the best fit for him. Somebody said he was the same height as Roger Moore too. 6'1.5 I really think would be better. 6'32 in shoes is a bit too much IMO.
Gonzalo said on 10/Apr/15
Maybe we can gauge Marvin´s height with this pic. He is wearing tongs

Click Here

Rob in your opinion, how tall is this fish?
Gonzalo said on 10/Apr/15
Maybe we can gauge Marvin´s height with this pic. He is wearing tongs

ttp://tinyurl.com/pzpftp5

Rob in your opinion, how tall is this fish?
Sam said on 6/Apr/15
Rob, would you add to his credits the following?: The Wild One, The Killers and Hell in the Pacific.
AlexMahone said on 6/Apr/15
In "Shout at the Devil" (1976) he was eye to eye with Roger Moore.

Click Here

So, 187-188cm is possible.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 3/Apr/15
@Arch: I agree with everything you say about Marvin. He did look more like a 6ft1½ guy at peak. But Lee Van Cleef? I ain't sure on that. He looked too close to Eastwood to be anything less than 6ft2. I put him in the 6ft2-2½ category.
Sam said on 1/Apr/15
Arch, maybe 1.5 to 2 inch range, I think Palance cleared Marvin by a noticeable amount...Palance claimed 6'4" at peak, I think he could have been as much as 6'3.5".
Arch Stanton said on 2/Mar/15
He might have worn lifts in the Big Heat though to fit his mean character which was intended to be imposing. Below I say I even thought he looked 198-190 in that film. Generally I think 6'1.5 would be the best shout. Did he really look 2 inches shorter than Palance Sam?
Arch Stanton said on 2/Mar/15
I think the only time I thought he looked the full 6'2 was in what was it The Big Heat with Glenn Ford in the early 50s?
Arch Stanton said on 2/Mar/15
Rob do you think 6'1.5 might be a better shout? He looked a bit more than 2 inches shorter than John Wayne and you now have Wayne at 6'3.75. He made Clint Eastwood look 6'4.5 in Paint Your Wagon if he was the full 6'2". He's looked 6'1" range in almost everything I've seen I think. There's a chance that Cleef was 187 too of course. I might check out a few more films just to be more certain but I've seen about a dozen of his I think.
Los Pollos Hermanos said on 21/Feb/15
Jamie says on 22/Sep/14:
"I always thought Lee was 6'5".
Of course, Jamie... Ha, ha, ha!! Lee, Christopher Lee...
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 14/Jan/15
Excuse that post below. The movie with Bruce Willis I'm thinking of is Hudson Hawk (1991) and the actor was actually James Coburn who had not quite yet hopped off of the mortal coil but resembled Marvin facially and coincidentally in stature also.
Sam said on 12/Jan/15
Yeah, could have been a fraction under 6'2" but I'm pretty sure he was quite even with Lee Van Cleef in Liberty Valance. Van Cleef rarely looked under 6'2" at peak IMO. On the other hand, I thought Marvin looked nearly two inches under Jack Palance in Attack!
Arch Stanton said on 14/Dec/14
Nice photo thanks! Looks like Amsterdam?
Editor Rob
yeah
Arch Stanton said on 12/Dec/14
Rob can you add a photo? Well, now the Duke has had a downgrade and considering that he made Clint Eastwood look 6'4.5 in Paint Your Wagon perhaps a 187 listing wouldn't be unreasonable. He could look a solid 6'2" at times though.
Sam said on 10/Dec/14
Near Rock Hudson, he looks a little sub 6'2" here but it looks like he's standing on slightly lower ground.
Click Here
Jake: 1.84 m- 1.85 m said on 27/Nov/14
One of his best roles was in 'Hell in the Pacific' with Toshiro Mifune. Have you seen that, Rob? It not, highly recommend it.
Editor Rob
not for 20 years, a lot of older films I am going to rewatch.
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 14/Oct/14
According to self-proclaimed 6fter Oliver Reed, Marvin was 6ft5!
Jamie said on 22/Sep/14
I always thought Lee was 6'5".
Sam said on 7/Aug/14
I think he did seem fairly even in height with 6'2" Lee Van Cleef in Liberty Valance...I imagine they had respect for each other, "Los Pollos Hermanos", both were decorated WWII veterans (like Stewart but unlike The Duke), I don't picture them fighting unlike Burt Lancaster, who anecotedly wanted to throw Marvin off a cliff for his messing up the filming of The Professionals with his drunknessness.
Arch Stanton said on 6/Aug/14
Ian C. says on 1/May/14
Marvin made three movies with John Wayne (Donovan's Reef, The Comancheros and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) and I always thought while watching those movies that he was roughly the same height as Wayne.

LOL you need glasses! John Wayne looked easily 2 inches taller!! Click Here Click Here
Arch Stanton said on 6/Aug/14
Ian C. says on 1/May/14
Marvin made three movies with John Wayne (Donovan's Reef, The Comancheros and The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance) and I always thought while watching those movies that he was roughly the same height as Wayne.

LOL you need glasses! John Wayne looked easily 2 inches taller!!
Arch Stanton said on 6/Aug/14
Point Blank is one of my favourites of his, that film for me was almost the iconic late 60s spy movie.
Arch Stanton said on 6/Aug/14
Yeah Sam he could look 6'1" range at times. I didn't like Cat Ballou much admittedly, but it was an Oscar winner and among his best known roles. In Paint Your Wagon at times Clint Eastwood could look 6'4.5" in comparison.
jtm said on 5/Aug/14
a strong 6'1
Sam said on 5/Aug/14
He could look a little sub 6'2" at times for sure, but generally seemed close to it, 6'1.5"-6'1.75" is the lowest I'd go but this is fine.
Los Pollos Hermanos said on 12/Jul/14
Clearly note that Marvin leads hikes. In fact, if Van Cleef pushes slightly with his finger on Lee's back, he would fall to the floor and his neck would break. Ha ha ha! Stewart looks 1'78. Because is thinner than the rest? No way!On the contrary, thinner people looks taller than fat people...
Sam said on 28/May/14
Yes, he was an Oscar winner for Cat Ballou but that was not even close to his best film. Also please add Seven Men From Now.
Arch Stanton said on 26/May/14
Rob can you add Cat Ballou, The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance, The Big Heat and Donovan's Reef?

Actually looks 189-190cm in The Big Heat.
Ian C. said on 18/May/14
Well, you could be right there, Maestro. I love Liberty Valance, even though it is cringingly bad, and the reason Stewart seems smaller than the others is only because he's so much thinner. Everybody in it is decades too old. The plot doesn't make sense unless all the main characters are in their early twenties, but the youngest actor in it was Marvin, who was probably about thirty-five. Wayne and Stewart were both about fifty.
Maestro Ciruela said on 11/May/14
I must insist, Ian C. If you see Henrik photo shown below, in the Liberty Valance film, is ridiculous that James Stewart (6'3) seems a kid of 14 years among adults. I'm sure all those guys except him, were using hikes! Cinema's world is always lying us. I think that Wayne and Stewart were 1'91, Marvin 1'84 and Van Cleef 1´87. Of course, without hikes!!
Zediah said on 13/Mar/14
I've read that Marvin was only six foot, even though he was sometimes described as being 6'3".
Arch Stanton said on 6/Jan/14
He won the Oscar for Best Actor for that film!! No way was his performance better than Omar Sharif's in Dr. Zhivago!!
Arch Stanton said on 6/Jan/14
He looks more 6'1 range to me in Cat Ballou.
James said on 28/Dec/13
Marvin was 6'1", not the 6'2" he was billed as. He never made a film with Bruce Willis as he died before Willis was a movie star.
Mr. Kaplan said on 8/Nov/13
I believe he was 6'1". In The Dirty Dozen, he's shorter than Jim Brown who is supposedly 6'2". He is also quite shorter than 6'4" George Kennedy in the same movie.
Maestro Ciruela said on 29/Apr/13
Ed T, thanks for your comment. Now I would like to emphasize that Henrik photo shown below, the Liberty Valance film in which I find it hilarious that James Stewart (6'3) seems a youngster of 14 years among adults. Ha ha ha! Do all those guys except him were using hikes?
I apologize for my English, but I am and I write from Barcelona - Europe.
Ed T. said on 27/Apr/13
Maestro, I have seen Emperor of the North Pole a few times and I agree with your assessment. In most scenes in that movie Carradine appears to be at least as tall, if not slightly taller than Marvin. Another example of how Marvin, although a tall man, was most likely right around 6'1" peak , possibly a hair under 6'1", possibly a hair over 6'1", but to me eyes, very doubtful that he was a legit 6'2" or even a hair under 6'2". I really believe that Lee Van Cleef was no taller than 6'1.5" and in Liberty Valence, it appears that Van Cleef may be slightly taller than Marvin.
Maestro Ciruela said on 23/Apr/13
Yesterday, I saw again "Emperor of the North Pole", and Keith Carradine (6'1) and Marvin were at the same level, even sometimes, look shorter Lee...
Ed T. said on 30/Dec/12
What film was that Rampage? Didn't Marvin die in 1987?
Rampage(-_-_-)Clover said on 25/Dec/12
Looked 2in taller than 5ft11.5(182cm) Bruce Willis in some film from 1990.
Yaspaa said on 17/Nov/12
6 inches on Bronson? I don't see it.
angeleyes said on 24/Oct/12
John Boorman said Marvin was 6'3''. A big man. I don't buy he was under 6'2'' anyway.
Ed T. said on 9/Sep/12
Henrik, I don't know if that is a more fair picture, but I don't think that Marvin was far under 6'2", just not a legit 6'2". I wouldn't be surprised if Marvin was 6'1.5" . I would be surprised if he was anything less than 6'1".
Henrik said on 9/Sep/12
This is a more fair picture with John Wayne (although Marvin is closer to the camera):

Click Here

Perhaps Marvin wasn't a legit 6'2", but I don't buy that he was far under it. 6'2" straight out of bed is what I would say.
JR said on 6/Sep/12
Im with SRG and Ed T. I think he was a solid 6'-6'1 at the most.
Ed T. said on 1/Sep/12
I agree SRG. Marvin is also one of my favorite actors. I think that your point about Marvin's lanky build and his fearless attitude has a lot to do with some people perceiving him to be a little taller than he actually was, is dead on. Marvin had long legs for his height and that combined with his slim build could make him appear taller at first glance. I've seen too many films where he looks at least two inches ( if not more) shorter than actors who were most likely between 6'3 and 6'4 inches barefoot, such as Jack Palance, Donald Sutherland, Robert Ryan and John Wayne. There are scenes and a photograph in "The Professionals" where he looks to be easily more than two inches shorter than both Jack Palance and Robert Ryan. Also in the Dirty Dozen, I remember a scene where Marvin and George Kennedy are side by side while saluting a superior officer. To me it seemed that Marvin was nowhere near as tall as Kennedy. If I recall correctly, to me in that scene, Kennedy appeard to have a "good" three inches or so on Marvin. Even in some face to face scenes with Sutherland in the Dirty Dozen and in a scene in the trailor of the making of the film for the Dirty Dozen when walking side by side down a London street, Sutherland appears to be quite noticeably taller than Marvin, I'd say by at least an "easy" two inches. Personally, I believe Sutherland to have been closer to 6'3" barefoot than 6'4" barefoot or maybe 6'3.5" . From all the films and pictures I have seen of Marvin I believe an accurate description of him is probably a barefoot height of around 6'1", maybe slightly over 6'1" at most, but not 6'2" barefoot. Add his lanky appearance and "I'm gonna kick your butt attitude" to 6'1" and the perception can become 6'2" for some people.
SRG said on 23/Aug/12
I think he had the build and the attitude to pull off 6'2 ( Lee Marvin was one of my favorite actors by the way) but I think he was under 6'2. Just look at the photo below from donovan's reef with 6'4 inch John Wayne. someone who is 6'2 should be able to easily hold there own against a 6'4 inch guy but it looks like there is alot more than a 2 inch difference between them. Although John Wayne was known to wear lifts so I might be wrong.



Click Here
David618 said on 16/Nov/11
I would say Marvin is a weak 6'2". Probably like me, 6'2" on the nose or a tiny bit over upon waking up and 6'1.5" or so at night. I think Rob has this one correct.
Shaun said on 17/Oct/11
6'1.5" at worst, close enough to 6'2" to claim it.
jtm said on 14/Aug/11
6'2 is correct or at least close to it.
Jay said on 13/Aug/11
An inch taller than Burt Lancaster in the Professionals, so 6'2'' is spot on
gregory lehmann said on 17/May/11
Inspired brother in law Dennis to join the Coast Guard,having served in it during World War II and the Korean War. "Cat Ballou" favorite Marvin movie,but also great in "The Dirty Dozen," "Bad Day At Black Rock," "The Big Heat," and "The Caine Mutiny," in which Marvin got whacked by Jose Ferrer with champagne when Robert Reed (this was his first movie) squealed Marvin started the mutiny after Reed squawked Marvin snatched Captain Queeg's (Humphrey Bogart driving) strawberries.
Mark said on 14/May/11
He's in a 1970 movie with Jack Palance and Jim Davis (Jock on Dallas). Both guys are taller than Marvin. 6'1.5, I'd say.
James J. said on 14/May/11
Gonzalo, did you note the 3" heels Lee was wearing as he approached the microphone?
thebad7 said on 24/Feb/11
One of my favorites--a genuine tough guy; Purple Heart Winning U.S. Marine during the Battle of Saipan in WWII. Just saw him recently in SEVEN MEN FROM NOW alongside Randolph Scott. He looks to be 6'2" on the nose. Scott looked to have about 1" on Marvin, and as Scott was listed at 6'3", 6'2" looks right for Marvin.

Also, in THE MAN WHO SHOT LIBERTY VALANCE, Marvin co-stars with Lee Van Cleef--also billed at 6'2". Standing by one another, Van Cleef looks to be just a hair taller, perhaps by an inch; so again, 6'2" sounds good for Marvin.

tb7
Bob said on 22/May/09
Watch the end of "Delta Force", Marvin and Chuck Norris are walking side by side. Marvin looks a good 3-4 inches taller than Norris. Marvin was older by then. I'd say 6'0.5" then. Taller when younger.
Ed T. said on 19/Feb/09
Bob H., thanks for Ryan's footwear information. The workboots for Ryan probably put him at at least a half-inch disadvantage to Marvin's cowboy boots. In those boots Marvin does look about two inches shorter than Ryan, so even if Ryan is 6'4" at the time of Bad Day at Black Rock , Marvin is probably no taller than 6'1.5" at that time.
Bob H. said on 15/Feb/09
There's a sceen in "Bad Day.." where Ryan is standing by his station wagon talking with Tracey. He is wearing workboots. Normal heeled boots that lace up high. He had poor posture, and kind of a thick waste, like someone with back problems. He looked 6'4" to me, always. Taller than Randolph Scott, Lee Marvin, and most folks in his films. Looked similar to Wayne. My real comments are only directed at the below mention of Ryan's foorware. Workboots. Marvin as stated below was in cowboy boots. Marvin did look 2 or so inches shorter.
Ed T. said on 13/Feb/09
Brunobrowne, I saw Bad Day at BlackRock also, and I thought Ryan looked two inches taller than Marvin. Also, I know Marvin was wearing Cowboy boots throughout that movie , although I'm not sure of Ryan's footwear. I have seen The Professionals ( 1966) and The Dirty Dozen and there are several side by side or face to face scenes with Marvin and Ryan and to me Ryhan always looks at least two inches taller than Marvin. It is possible Ryan was 6'4", but I believe Ryan was probbaly 6'3.5" inches in his prime ( Bad Day at Black Rock) and 6'3" inches later in his career ( The Professionals and The Dirty Dozen). His boigrapher quotes Ryan's children as saying that he was between 6'3" and 6'4" ( I'm sure that they are referring to his peak height ). You yourself said that Wayne looked at least two inches taller than Marvin in Donovan's Reef ( with the same footwear.) By 1963 at age 56 or 57, Wayne was probably at less than his peak height ( which I believe was 6'3.5" to 6'4") and was most likely 6'3" to 6'3.5". I think there's too much evidence to say that Marvin was "definitely 6'2" and enough to say he was probably 6'1" to 6'1.5" max.
Brunobrowne said on 10/Feb/09
Definitely 6'2'', just watched bad day at black rock and he looks no more than 1 inch lower than rob ryan. Ryan stood 6'4''. Ryan and Wayne are the same height yet Wayne looks at least 2'' taller than Marvin in Donovans reef(same footwear). Height can be a mystery sometimes.
adam said on 23/Jan/09
Lon Chaney Jr was a big man. He was clearly around 6-2. I agree with Ed, Mitchum was probably 6-1 even. Not over. Didnt
Gonzalo said on 7/Jan/09
If I remember properly Lon Chaney Jr. played Mitchum
Ed T. said on 6/Jan/09
Adam, I would like to see Not as A Stranger. Isn't that the film where Gonzalo said Marvin looks 2 cm shorter than Mitchum?

Hugh, I think there is too much evidence that shows that Marvin could never have been 6'2.5". In my opinion, the chances that Marvin was a full 6'2" is fairly slight. 6'1.25"-6'1.5" is the most likely peak height for Marvin, with a possibility of being 6'1" flat. In "Donovan's Reef" with John Wayne and Marvin wearing boat shoes/tennis shoes ( reducing the odds that Wayne was wearing lifts), Wayne looks 2.5 to 3 inches taller than Marvin in most scenes. At most, Wayne was most likely no more than 6'4.0" barefoot in 1963 and very likely no more than 6'3.5" at that time. As Wayne and Marvin's characters in "Donovan's Reef" were brawling rivals, I doubt that the studio would want or try to make Wayne look extra tall as compared to Marvin. Also, in "Not a Stranger" 1955, with Robert Mitchum, Gonzalo stated that Marvin appeared to be shorter than Mitchum by about 2 cm. I have a hard time believing Mitchum was more than 6'1.0", a slight chance of 6'1.5". Let's say if Mitchum was 6'1.5". That would put Marvin at slightly under 6'1". I think that Marvin was no less than 6'1" and likely slightly over, but my point is that most likely a guy who appears to be about an inch shorter than Mitchum would not likely be a full 6'2" guy.
adam said on 5/Jan/09
Not As A Stranger is the film.
Hugh said on 5/Jan/09
6ft2/6ft2.5 I'd say was his peak.
Ed T. said on 26/Dec/08
Adam, I'm not aware of the film with Mitchum and Lon Chaney, Jr. I'll try to find out the name of the film.
adam said on 19/Dec/08
Yes. Robert Mitchum looks most of the time around 6-1. In Cape Fear he was clearly shorter than the 6-3 Gregory Peck and in Night Of The Hunter he gave the impression of a solid 6-1 guy. So if Mitchum was taller than Marvin... well, that would make Marvin under 6-1, wouldn`t it?

By the way: Wasn`t Lon Chaney Jr. in a film with Mitchum? Ed, have you seen the film I`m talking about? How did they match?
Ed T. said on 14/Nov/08
Adam, I know that you are a big Robert Ryan fan, so I suggest that you check out "The Professionals" 1966, starring Lee Marvin, Robert Ryan , Burt Lancaster, Ralph Bellamy, Jack Palance and Woody Strode. There are several scenes in which Ryan is standing either next to or behind Marvin. At least in my view, Ryan looks a good two or two and a half inches taller than Lee Marvin. I know that you agree that by 1966, Ryan was most likely no more than 6'3.5". Marvin also looks only slightly taller than a 62 year old Ralph Bellamy, who I'm guessing would have probably been 6'0" ( maximum 6'0.5" ) at that time. There is also a photograph of Marvin standing close to Jack Palance "Raza" that is shown by Bellamy's character early on in the movie. In that photo, Palance looks significantly taller than Marvin, maybe three inches. I don't think Palance was over 6'4" and probably more like 6'3" to 6'3.5". From watching this film, I still believe Lee Marvin's most likely barefoot height was 6'1.25" to 6'1.5".

Regarding the Mitchum/Marvin mystery, I think that can be used to support theory of Marvin being less than 6'2", as it would be unusual ( though I agree not impossible by any means ) that Mitchum, who we both agree was no taller than 6'1" would look a full inch or 3/4" taller than a full 6'2" guy. It would seem that Mitchum would not be the kind of actor who would approve of wearing lifts.
adam said on 18/Sep/08
Yes, height can be a mystery. I`ve always seen Mitchum as a 6-1 guy, no more than that. Gonzalo, you`re absolutely right - In Cape Fear Peck looked clearly taller, more than 2 inches. On the other hand Marvin has always appeared a 6-2 guy to me. Yet Mitchum was taller than Marvin.... Strange thing.
Gonzalo said on 4/Sep/08
Marvin and Mitchum are hard to pin. Mitchum claimed he was 6 feet tall but he looked taller than Marvin in Not as a stranger. I think we all agree Mitchum was probably 6`1 and that will leave Marvin at 6`0. However Marvin looked as tall as William Hurt in Gorky Park and Marvin was almost 60. And I think we all agree Hurt looks at least 6`1. Back to Mitchum, there weren
adam said on 24/Aug/08
Ed, you may be right. Maybe there was more than just one inch between Marvin and Ryan. Ryan was a solid 6-4 as a young man but maybe he had lost a bit at that time. Sutherland is known for his awful posture but when he stood straight he was 6-4 at the time.

I`d say Marvin was a very close 6-2 still. Was Mitchum really taller than Marvin? I
Ed T. said on 15/Aug/08
Adam, when I look at " The Dirty Dozen " , to me it seems that there is at least a solid two inches between Marvin and Ryan. If you have the chance, please check out the scene in the Dirty Dozen where Ryan and Marvin are following Donald Sutherland ( who is acting as a General) when he inspects Ryan's troops. To me , in this scene, it is clear that both Ryan and Sutherland appear at least two inches , maybe a little more, than Marvin .
As I think both Ryan and Sutherland may have both been about 6'3" at this time ( maybe up to 6'3.5 inches) I would put Marvin at 6'1" to 6'1.5" tops.
Also, Adam please take a look at th epicture Dave posted on this page on July 9th of 5'10" Keenan Wynn with Marvin. Although I think Marvin was 6'1" or slightly over, I could buy 6'1.5" , but have trouble with buyong a full 6'2". In Donovan's Reef, where both Wayne and Marvin had sneakers on, it appears that Marvin usually looks 2.5 to a little more than 3 inches shorter than Wayne.
adam said on 14/Aug/08
Marvin looked just slightly shorter than Rober Ryan who was at least 6-3. A solid 6-2 for Marvin.
Ed T. said on 17/Jul/08
No way Marvin looks 6'2" if Keenan Wynn is 5'10". Marvin has a wider stance than Wynn in this picture, but there is no way the height difference between them is anywhere near 4 inches. Marvin and Wynn were in the movie Shack Out on 101 together. At no time in that movie does the young Marvin look more than three inches taller than Wynn. Marvin was 6'1" ( maybe a hair taller).
Rob, I think Marvin's peak height should be down graded.
Dave said on 9/Jul/08
A pic of Marvin and Keenan Wynn. Wynn is listed as being 5'10.
Click Here
Anonymous said on 4/Jul/08
Gonzalo,granted its only one movie, but wouldn't you agree that if Mitchum , who you have said before is most likely 6'1" , looks approxmately 2cms taller than Marvin , that Marvin would be closer to 6'1" than 6'2". Also, you would probably agree that in some scenes in Donovan's Reef, Marvin appeared to be approximately 3 inches ( at the very least 2.5 inches) shorter than John Wayne and they both appeared to be wearing tennis shoes or sneakers . Wayne was close to 60 years old in Donovan's Reef and may have been a little bit less than his peak height. Lets say he was between 6'3" and 6'4" barefoot at the time of Donovan's Reef. Wouldn't the possibility or even probability exist that Lee Marvin was between 6'1" and 6'1.5" barefoot . I myself am at least 6'4.75" tall ( barefoot) and have a somewhat similar build to Marvin and I am often mistaken as being 6'6" and even occasionally 6'7". Marvin was a great actor and probably a legitamate tough guy off the set as well. Just be because he may have been more like 6'1" than 6'2" does not take away from his greatness or toughness.
Gonzalo said on 29/May/08
Sam2, Mitchum towered over Sinatra but not over Marvin. I have to admit that I was surprised to see Mitchum looked taller than Marvin, but just a couple of cms.
sam 2 said on 29/May/08
Check out the 1955 film 'Not as a Stranger" with Sinatra & Robert Mitchum. Early in the film you see the three interns wolking together. Mitchum towers over both Sinatra & Marvin. Marvin looks like he may have been 6' with shoes on !
Anon_V said on 25/May/08
He seemed to be close in height to Jimmy Stewart and John Wayne in the Liberty Valance movie. I remember watching an interview in the 1980's shortly before he died and I got the impression he was the real deal, pretty tough guy. He had seen some rough stuff as a Marine at Saipan in WWII.
Ed T. said on 19/Apr/08
Marcelo, I respectfully disagree. I've seen the fight scene between Marvin and Moore in Shout at the Devil and in my opinion, Marvin does not appear to be more than one inch taller ( max) than Moore and quite possibly less than one full inch. In some instances during that scene, Moore and Marvin look the same height. There is quite a bit of evidence on the Roger Moore site including a back to back picture with Christopher Lee, group photo with Gregory Peck and David Niven from a 1970s film , that suggests that Moore was probably closer to 6'0" than to 6 '1" , even during the 1970s. That would seem to put Marvin at closer to 6'1" than 6'2". I believe that Marvin's peak height was probably between 6'1" and 6'1.5". Could you round off the 6'1.5" to say that he was 6'2"? Sure ( I suppose that even on a Height Website, what's a half-inch between friends) However, in my opinion to say that Marvin was a strong 6'2" is not accurate and to say that he was 6'3" or a hair below ( as some people on this Website and the Wayne Website have stated or implied, whether tongue-in-cheek or not) is laughable.
Ed T. said on 23/Feb/08
Anonymous, there was a photograph on the internet of Muhammad Ali visiting the set of The Dirty Dozen ( I am having trouble locating it now) . Standing to the side and a little in front of Ali ( who is in dress shoes ) is Lee Marvin (in Combat boots); to the side of Marvin is Clint Walker. Marvin seems to be demonstarting the handling of a machine gun. Although Marvin has his head slightly down ,looking at the gun, there is no way that Marvin does not appear to be two inches shorter than Ali. If Ali was 6'3" , then that would put Marvin at 6'1". Ali was certainly no taller than 6'3.5". I cannot see Marvin, even at his peak, being a full 6'2". I think his lean, lanky build gave the impression , if he was shown by himself or in action scenes where he was moving, that he was taller.
Ed T. said on 21/Feb/08
Marvin appeared to be similar in height to the 6'0"-6'1" Ralph Meeker in the Dirty Dozen and looked no taller than the 6'1" Keith Carradine in Emperor of the North. He was still in his forties in those films and couldn't have shrunk much by then. I got the impression that he was two inches shorter than Robert Ryan in Bad Day at Black Rock ( 1954/1955 ). Since Ryan was probably 6'3.5" that would put Marvin at about 6'1.5" inches in his early thirties. So, very close to 6'2" , but not quite there.
Anonymous said on 19/Feb/08
Marvin looked shorter than Wayne in Donovans Reef but looked about the same height as Wayne in the Man Who Shot Liberty Valance. I'd say 6'2'' or a little over. He was a big guy. Never the biggest man in the movies but bigger than most.
Ed T. said on 17/Feb/08
I agree with Bob H. I believe Marvin was between 6'1'' to 6'1.5" at his peak. In the Donovan's Reef fight scene with John Wayne( in sneakers)in the pond, Marvin appears to be between 3 to 4 unches shorter than Wayne. Appears to be a good three inches shorter than 6'4" George Kennedy in the Dirty Dozen scene where they enter the Conference room to salute the Generals. Also, does not appear to be more than 2 inches ( 2.5 inches max) taller than 5'11" Lloyd Bochner in Point Blank.
Gonzalo said on 11/Oct/07
Not the best pic to judge but Marvin looks very similar to Gene Hackman, who is clearly around the 1`88 area
Click Here
Bob H. said on 16/Aug/07
Wonderful ator. Magnificent voice. Clearly tall and very manly. In 1970 version of "Monte Walsh" he is noticably shorter than 6'2 1/2" Jim Davis and 6'3" Jack Palance. Lee Marvin seems to be more like 6'1" and maybe 1/2". Maybe.
Liberachi16 said on 27/Feb/07
Hey frank2, whwere did you get your pictures?
Gonzalo said on 23/Feb/07
Liberachi16, take a look at the picture posted by Frank2 on April 21st and tell me Marvin was as tall as Wayne
Anonymous said on 22/Feb/07
This page makes me think about Frank2, see below. I'll always wonder if he was genuine or a fantasist. Some of the stuff he said seemed far fetched other things very insightful.
Liberachi16 said on 13/Feb/07
I don't know mabey its just me but Lee Marvin stood about the same height as John Wayne was 6'4. Now guys I'm a chick and I'm 5'11 so any one that tall would be very noticable.
chris said on 21/Jan/07
In my opinion, I'd put Marvin at at least 6'3.
I was watching the film 'The Proffessionals' earlier, and he looked about an inch shorter than a 6'4 Robert Ryan.
Roger Field said on 12/Sep/06
I had a small part in "Avalanche Express" in Munich in 1978. I spoke a lot to Lee Marvin and he towered over me. He walked me around Bavaria Studios to the casting office. I am almost 5'9" without shoes and I would put his height at at least 6'2.5 inches. Lee was very nice.
mike c said on 28/Apr/06
Gramps, with all due respect, your Marvin and Newman shot is not accurate..take 2-3 inches from Newman (look at the heels of his boots..and add 3 inches at least to Marvin..he' leaning against a wall with hand in pockets and has his legs crossed..were he be standing tall and were Newman to have normal shoes on, Marvin would be a great deal taller than he...at least 6'2"...
Frank2 said on 27/Apr/06
That's correct. Lee was 6'2".
Mikex said on 27/Apr/06
I've just watched feature about the making of the Dirty Dozen on dvd. The cast is shown walking round the streets of London, Lee Marvin only looks a little shorter than 6'4'' Donald Sutherland. The difference is no more than 2 inches and it might be a little less.
Frank2 said on 26/Apr/06
I worked at MGM film lab back when MGM had its own studio in Culver City. I ended up working in the color timing dept. Shamus was a Columbia release and back then MGM had a contract to do all Columbia's negative processing and release printing. When it came time to run the answer print for the director who was Buzz Kulik, Burt showed up with his then girlfriend singer Dinah Shore and we ran it for them. After the film ended, Dinah expressed her desire to sing the main title and got into a heated argument with Buz over going back and recording her voice and then laying over the existing Jerry Goldsmith music track. At that point Burt made a dash out the door. I could tell from his reaction that he didn't like angry confrontations. In the end Dinah lost the argument, thank God.
Glenn said on 25/Apr/06
Yes,how I can I forget Deliverence.The longest yard also fantastic.wow,what did you do on Shamus? I havnt veiwed it since I was a kid.where did they film it?
Frank2 said on 25/Apr/06
Deliverance is my favorite. I worked on Shamus. Not a bad film. It's kind of dated when viewed today, but still fun. The Longest Yard is very entertaining.
Glenn said on 25/Apr/06
Frank-whats your fave Burt movie? Im a huge fan.Sharkys Machine and Shamus are mine.
Frank2 said on 24/Apr/06
I'd say when he was young, Burt Reynolds was about 5'10". Now he's about 5'9" and goes to bed with his lifts on.

Marvin was 6'2" and the last time I saw him he still looked it. He was two inches shorter than Clint Eastwood in Paint Your Wagon.
Glenn said on 23/Apr/06
Frank-is Burt 5-9 or 5-10? Lonnie Anderson said he was 5-10 and wore lifts in his sneakers.I think,and read he can be as low as 5-8.
Frank2 said on 23/Apr/06
And Angie Dickenson was the Duke's height. She was over six feet tall.
Frank2 said on 22/Apr/06
Yes, I did meet Akins once at The Golden Boot Awards. By then he was about an inch taller than me or roughly 6'. But that was shortly before he died and he looked just plain awful. I'd venture to guess that Akins was at least 6'1" when he was younger. At that same event I saw Burt Reynolds not looking as tall as he usually did with his huge lifts. Then a few years later I ran into him on a street in Beverly Hills and he was shorter than me by an inch. By then he had so much plastic surgery work done to his face that he didn't look human! More like a wax figure. And his hairpiece looked like a carpet!

Editor Rob
I'll add akins, for sure early career could have been 6ft 1+
Frank2 said on 22/Apr/06
I'm retired and don't need to pretend.

Editor Rob
Frank, did you ever meet Claude Akins...he puzzles me that guy's height...
Frank2 said on 21/Apr/06
Marvin and Wayne: Click Here

Marvin Stewart and Wayne: Click Here
That's 6'2" Lee Van Cleef on the far left.

Ever watch The Professionals? In it Marvin is as tall or slightly taller than co-star Burt Lancaster. And please don't tell me that Lancaster was just 6' since I know he was only slightly shorter than Gary Cooper in Vera Cruz.
Frank2 said on 21/Apr/06
Well, here you show your complete ignorance. I met Marvin at a screening and by then he was already looking pretty haggared, but he was well-over six feet tall. Standing next to him I could tell he was taller than me by at least three inches and I'm a solid 5'11". I had friends along and we all commented on how tall he was as well as how bad he looked.

Marvin with 5'11" Lloyd Bochner:Click Here

Marvin was Bill Hurt's height in Gorky Park and Bill is 6'2".

Marvin was over two inches taller than 5'11.5" Glenn Ford in The Big Heat.

Marvin next to 5'7.5" John Cassavetes who's wearing lifts: Click Here
Marvin isn't wearing lifts.

Marvin and Wayne: Click Here
Neither man is wearing lifts.

Marvin towering over 5'4" Roman Polanski and his 5'5" wife Sharon Tate: Click Here

Frank2 said on 3/Mar/06
I saw Marvin shortly before he died and he was still well-over six feet tall.
Gramps said on 28/Dec/05
Based on Marvin's later work, I thought him to be about 5'11" to 6'0". But seeing him in his early days he was much taller than I expected. I think 6'2" was about right for the 30-ish Marvin, but not later in life.
Mikex said on 27/Dec/05
John Boorman the film director says Marvin was 6'3'' and wrote about how imposing Marvin was in person. Boorman is certainly no fool so I guess he couldn't have been out by more than an inch.
Tubbs said on 19/Dec/05
Roger is old now isn't he, i'm not going to say young Rog am I when at present he is 78 years old. I think that we virtually established that Rog was above 6'1 in 'the Wild Geese, as he is taller than Richard Harris, who is 6'1, not 5'10 McFly.
Tubbs said on 15/Dec/05
Shorter than old Rog in Shout at the Devil, who I reckon was 6'2" at the time - Gotxo would have another view on that, but I think Marvin was 6'2" earlier in his career, and shrunk to 6'1 later on in his career. Still looked a big guy in the Dirty Dozen, but hey, so did Charles Bronson in some scenes!
David said on 14/Dec/05
Sorry but I too have seen that John Ford movie, and the Duke did look 4 inches taller than Marvin in some scenes.
Gramps said on 6/Dec/05
McFly, I think EVERYONE looks shorter to you. They wouldn't appear that way if you'd remove the two-inch lifts from your cowboy boots!
Gramps said on 22/Oct/05
I think these two photos will clearly indicate Marvin was closer to 6'0". Here he is next to the 5'8" Paul Newman and the 5'7" or 5'8" Charles Bronson:
http://www.outofrange.net/blogarchive/archives/marvin-newman.jpg
http://www.capital.it/trovacinema/rendercmsfield.jsp?field_name=Image&id=259555
PhantomPhan said on 3/May/05
I think Lee Marvin is/was not more than 6'0", if even that much. Even in his early, "small speaking part" rolls, he doesn't look much taller that 5'11". If you can, watch "Paint Your Wagon"--Clint Eastwood towers over Marvin. (Now if we can just confirm Eastwood's height, we'll be all set!)

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